Lymph node ratio as valuable predictor in pancreatic cancer treated with R0 resection and adjuvant treatment

What are the true benefits of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with pancreatic cancer?

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease, and multimodal treatment including high-quality surgery can improve survival outcomes. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has evolved with minimally invasive approaches including the implementation of robotic PD (RPD). In this special report, we review the literature whilst evaluating the 'true benefits' of RPD compared to open approach for the treatment of PDAC.

AREAS COVERED

We have performed a mini-review of studies assessing PD approaches and compared intraoperative characteristics, perioperative outcomes, post-operative complications and oncological outcomes.

EXPERT OPINION

RPD was associated with similar or longer operative times, and reduced intra-operative blood loss. Perioperative pain scores were significantly lower with shorter lengths of stay with the robotic approach. With regards to post-operative complications, post-operative pancreatic fistula rates were similar, with lower rates of clinically relevant fistulas after RPD. Oncological outcomes were comparable or superior in terms of margin status, lymph node harvest, time to chemotherapy and survival between RPD and OPD. In conclusion, RPD allows safe implementation of minimally invasive PD. The current literature shows that RPD is either equivalent, or superior in certain aspects to OPD. Once more centers gain sufficient experience, RPD is likely to demonstrate clear superiority over alternative approaches.

Lymph Node Ratio as a Predictor of Survival for Colon Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Lymph node ratio is the number of lymph nodes with evidence of metastases on pathological review compared to the total number of lymph nodes harvested during oncologic resection. Lymph node ratio is a proven predictor of long-term survival. These data have not been meta-analyzed to determine the prognosis associated with different lymph node ratio cut-offs in colon cancer.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL were systematically searched. Articles were included if they compared 5-year overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) between different lymph node ratios for patients undergoing oncologic resection for stages I-III colon cancer. Pairwise meta-analyses using inverse variance random effects were performed.

RESULTS

From 2587 citations, nine studies with 97,631 patients (female: 51.9%, median age: 61.65 years) were included. A lymph node ratio above .1 resulted in a 49% decrease in the odds of 5-year OS (2 studies; OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.49-.53, P < .00001). A lymph node ratio above .25 resulted in a 56% decrease in the odds of 5-year OS (3 studies; OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.43-.45, P < .00001). A lymph node ratio above .5 resulted in a 65% decrease in the odds of 5-year OS (3 studies; OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.33-.37, P < .00001).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph node ratios from .1 to .5 are effective predictors of 5-year OS for colon cancer. There appears to be an inverse dose-response relationship between lymph node ratio and 5-year OS. Further study is required to determine whether there is an optimal lymph node ratio cut-off for prognostication and whether it can inform which patients may benefit from more aggressive adjuvant therapy and follow-up protocols.

Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Score and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Indexes Used As Pretreatment Outcome Predictors in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Robotic or Open Whipple Procedures: A Logistic Regression Analysis

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer (PC) in the United States. In patients with resectable PC, identification of pretreatment biomarkers before surgery can help in the decision-making process by weighing the benefits of neo-adjuvant therapy, surgical procedure, and adjuvant therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine if the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score and immune-inflammatory marker levels can be used in combination as pretreatment predictors of mortality risk in patients undergoing the Whipple procedure (alternatively, pancreatoduodenectomy (PD)) for PDAC. Methods This retrospective study included 115 patients with PDAC who underwent open or robotic Whipple procedures between January 2013 and December 2022 at a single tertiary medical center. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the association between predictors and mortality. Machine learning algorithms were used to calculate the performance of the different models. Results Bivariate analysis showed that the variables "sex" and "body mass index (BMI)" had a potential association with mortality, although statistical significance was not achieved for sex (p = 0.07). Patients with BMIs >25 kg/m2 had a higher risk of mortality compared to patients with BMIs ≤24.9 kg/m2 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.03-4.8, p = 0.04). Higher (more positive) ALBI scores (>-2.24) were also associated with increased mortality risk (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2-10.5, p = 0.0003). When the cutoff values of the inflammatory markers were used to categorize these variables, values greater than the cutoff values were associated with an increased risk of mortality. In the multivariate logistic regression model, an ALBI score >-2.24 (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 1.8-10.3, p = 0.0008), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3.5 (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.4-7.9, p = 0.007), and being a woman (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1-6.4, p = 0.03) remained influential predictors of increased mortality (c value = 0.77). Conclusion The ALBI score and the NLR are easily accessible markers; their use, combined with a patient's sex, can provide useful pre-surgical information regarding mortality risk after PD. This can aid in treatment planning as well as expedite decisions about the type of Whipple procedure, adjuvant therapy, and surveillance, which can subsequently improve a patient's outcomes and survival.

Evaluation of the performance of and interobserver agreement on postoperative baseline CT findings in the identification of locoregional recurrence in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate interobserver agreement on the findings of baseline contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (CE-MDCT) performed at the postoperative third month in patients who underwent surgery due to ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head and investigate the value of these findings in predicting locoregional recurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The baseline CE-MDCT images of 198 patients who underwent the Whipple procedure due to pancreatic head tumors were evaluated independently by three radiologists at the postoperative third month. The radiologists were asked to note suspicious findings in terms of locoregional recurrence, including postoperative fat stranding, the presence of perivascular contrast-enhanced solid tissue, short diameter of solid tissue if present, the shape of solid tissue (convex/concave), presence of peritoneal implants, diameter (mm) of pancreatic duct dilatation if present, the presence of lymph nodes larger than 5 mm, portal vein stenosis (≥50 and <50%), the presence of ascites, and the presence of distant metastases, as specified by the Society of Abdominal Radiology in October 2022. The agreement between the radiologists and the value of these parameters in predicting locoregional recurrence were investigated.

RESULTS

Among the CE-MDCT findings evaluated, the radiologists had a moderate-to-high level of agreement concerning the presence of perivascular contrast-enhanced solid tissue. However, there was a poor interobserver agreement on the shape of solid tissue. A very high level of agreement was found among the radiologists in the evaluation of pancreatic duct dilatation, peritoneal implants, ascites, and the presence of distant metastases. According to the univariate analysis, the rates of portal vein stenosis had a 1.419 -fold effect [odds ratio (OR)=1.419, [95% confidence interval (CI)= 0.548-3.679, p=0.041], lymph node presence had a 2.337 -fold effect [odds ratio (OR)=2.337, [95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.165-4.686, p=0.015], perivascular contrast-enhanced solid tissue had 2.241 -fold effect [odds ratio (OR)=2.241, [95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.072-4.684, p=0.005]. In the multivariate analysis, perivascular contrast-enhanced solid tissue had 2.241 -fold effect [odds ratio (OR)=2.519, [95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.132-5.605, p=0.024].

CONCLUSION

In the postoperative baseline CE-MDCT examination, the presence of solid tissue, lymph node presence, and portal vein stenosis in the surgical bed are among the findings that may indicate early locoregional recurrence in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic carcinosarcoma: An orthogonal analysis

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic carcinosarcoma is a rare subtype of pancreatic cancer. There are no consensus guidelines regarding its treatment. The current study is an orthogonal analysis of multiple datasets to evaluate prognostic features.

METHODS

A modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 systematic review was performed for reported cases of pancreatic carcinosarcoma. All cases of pancreatic carcinosarcoma in the National Cancer Database were identified for analysis. Analyses were compared to previously published data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to increase validity.

RESULTS

Seventy-one cases of pancreatic carcinosarcoma were reported in the literature. Reports of pancreatic carcinosarcoma increased over time (P = .0075). Tumor size >5.0 cm, metastatic disease, and relapse were associated with decreased disease-specific survival (all log-rank P < .05). Ninety-nine cases of pancreatic carcinosarcoma were analyzed within the National Cancer Database. Pancreatic carcinosarcoma incidence increased over time (P = .0371). Resection + chemotherapy, pathologic lymph node examination, and treatment at an academic center were associated with improved overall survival (all log-rank P < .05), whereas harboring ≥2 positive lymph nodes was associated with decreased overall survival (log-rank P = .0171). Within a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, comorbid disease, and disease stage, resection + chemotherapy was associated with a decreased hazard of death (hazard ratio .036; confidence Interval .004-.298; P = .0022). Published data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database supported the current analysis regarding the incidence of pancreatic carcinosarcoma, resection, lymph node evaluation, and the impact of metastatic disease.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatic carcinosarcoma is exceedingly rare, with a poor prognosis. Long-term survival is possible with curative resection in the absence of relapse. The number of positive lymph nodes appears to impact prognosis.

Predictive factors for survival in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer: are these really two different entities?

BACKGROUND

The treatment of borderline resectable (BR) and locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has evolved with a wider application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACHT). The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for survival in BR and LA PDAC.

METHODS

Clinicopathologic data of patients with BR and LA PDAC who underwent surgical exploration between January 2011 and June 2021 were retrospectively collected. Survival from the date of surgery was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Simple and multiple Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to identify factors associated with survival. Surgical resection was analyzed in combination with the involvement of lymph nodes as this last was only known after a formal resection.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were surgically explored (BR: 45, LA: 45), of which 51 (57%) were resected (BR: 31, LA: 20). NACHT was administered to 43 patients with FOLFIRINOX being the most frequent regimen applied (33/43, 77%). Major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III and IV) occurred in 7.8% of patients and 90-day mortality rate was 3.3%. The median overall survival since surgery was 16 months (95% CI 12-20) in the group which underwent surgical resection and 10 months (95% CI 7-13) in the group with an unresectable tumor (p=0.001). Cox proportional hazards models showed significantly lower mortality hazard for surgical resection compared to no surgical resection, even after adjusting for National Comprehensive Cancer Network  (NCCN) classification and administration of NACHT [surgical resection with involved lymph nodes vs no surgical resection (cHR 0.49; 95% CI 0.29-0.82; p=0.007)]. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with BR and LA disease (cHR= 1.01; 95% CI 0.63-1.62; p=0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection is the only predictor of survival in patients with BR and LA PDAC, regardless of their initial classification as BR or LA. Our results suggest that surgery should not be denied to patients with LA PDAC a priori. Prospective studies including patients from the moment of diagnosis are required to identify biologic and molecular markers which may allow a better selection of patients who will benefit from surgery.

New perspectives on robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy: An analysis of the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a common malignancy. Despite all advancements, the prognosis remains, poor with an overall 5-year survival of only 10.8%. Recently, a robotic platform has become an attractive tool for treating pancreatic cancer (PC). While recent studies indicated improved lymph node (LN) harvest during robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), data on long-term outcomes are insufficient.

AIM

To evaluate absolute LN harvest during PD. Secondary outcomes included evaluating the association between LN harvest and short- and long-term oncological outcomes for three different surgical approaches.

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of the National Cancer Database, including patients diagnosed with PC who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robotic PD in 2010-2018. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables, chi-square test - for categorical. Overall survival was defined as the time between surgery and death. Median survival time was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared with the Wilcoxon test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of covariates with survival after controlling for patient characteristics and procedure type.

RESULTS

17169 patients were included, 8859 (52%) males; mean age 65; 14509 (85%) white. 13816 (80.5%) patients had an open PD, 2677 (15.6%) and 676 (3.9%) - laparoscopic and robotic PD respectively. Mean comorbidity index (Charlson-Deyo Score) 0.50. On average, 18.84 LNs were harvested. Mean LN harvest during open, laparoscopic and robotic PD was 18.59, 19.65 and 20.70 respectively (P < 0.001). On average 2.49 LNs were positive for cancer and did not differ by the procedure type (P = 0.26). Vascular invasion was noted in 42.6% of LNs and did differ by the approach: 42.1% for open, 44.0% for laparoscopic and 47.2% for robotic PD (P = 0.015). Median survival for open PD was 26.1 mo, laparoscopic - 27.2 mo, robotic - 29.1 mo (P = 0.064). Survival was associated with higher LN harvest, while higher number of positive LNs was associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that robotic PD is associated with increased intraoperative LN harvest and has comparable short-term oncological outcomes and survival compared to open and laparoscopic approaches.

Outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) undergoing robotic (RPD) or open pancreaticoduodenectomies (OPD): a propensity score-weighted survival analysis

The purpose of this study was to compare the survival, recurrence, and complication rates in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who underwent robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) or open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) and who received adjuvant therapy. The study was a single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive PDAC patients who underwent RPD/OPD. Patient characteristics, tumor findings, neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapies, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared between the OPD and RPD cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression with and without propensity score matching was used to establish the association between predictors and outcomes. One hundred PDAC patients underwent OPD (n = 36) or RPD (n = 64) from 2013 to 2019. Cox proportional hazard models showed that baseline bilirubin (HR 1.6, p = 0.0006) and operative characteristics such as the number of positive lymph nodes (HR 1.1, p = 0.002), lymph node ratio (HR 1.6, p = 0.001), tumor grade (HR 1.7, p = 0.02), and TNM classification (HR 2.3, p = 0.01) were associated with OS. The independent predictors post-intervention associated with mortality were adjuvant therapy (HR 0.4, p = 0.0003), ISGPS complications (HR 2.8, p = 0.02), and 90-day readmission (HR 2, p = 0.004). After adjustment for these predictors, adjuvant therapy, baseline bilirubin, lymph node ratio, and tumor grade remained the main predictors of mortality. Baseline bilirubin, adjuvant therapy, lymph node ratio, and tumor grade were the main determinants of mortality after OPD or RPD. There was no significant difference in OS and RFS after RPD or OPD in PC patients who received adjuvant therapy.

Effects of the Largest Metastatic Lymph Node Size on the Outcomes of Patients who Underwent Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Objectives

Prognostic importance of metastatic lymph nodes in pancreatic cancer is always garnered attention due to dismal prognosis, with some quantitative factors drawing attention for significantly predicting outcomes. Size is one of the easy approach morphological characteristics of the lymph node, and data for effect of largest metastatic lymph node (LMLN) size on survival outcomes are lacking in pancreatic cancer. We aim to evaluate the effect of LMLN size on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

This retrospective study evaluates the effect of LMLN size on survival outcomes by grouping the patients who were surgically treated for PDAC, according to their lymph node stage and calculated cutoff value for LMLN size, between February 2015 and May 2020.

Results

In the study cohort of 131 patients, the mean age was 63.9±10.8 years and 77 patients were female. Ninety-nine of the patients had pN1, 32 had pN2 stage disease. The optimal cutoff point of LMLN size for predicting the prognosis was calculated as 7.5 mm (sensitivity = 81% and specificity = 81%). 34 (34.3%) of pN1 and 7 (21.9%) of pN2-staged patients had lymph node smaller than 7.5 mm. Three-year survival was significantly longer for patients whose LMLN size was <7.5 mm (56.2-18.2%, p<0.001). Whereas, the patients with LMLN size <7.5 mm had statistically significant longer median survival rate in the subgroup of patients with pN1 lymph node stage, no significant difference in median survival rates was observed between subgroups of pN2 patients (p=0.237).

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that the LMLN size was one of the potential predictors of survival in patients with PDAC.

Machine-learning based investigation of prognostic indicators for oncological outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Surgical resection remains the only potential curative treatment option for early-stage resectable PDAC. Patients with locally advanced or micrometastatic disease should ideally undergo neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection for an optimal treatment outcome. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is the most common imaging modality obtained prior to surgery. However, the ability of CT scans to assess the nodal status and resectability remains suboptimal and depends heavily on physician experience. Improved preoperative radiographic tumor staging with the prediction of postoperative margin and the lymph node status could have important implications in treatment sequencing. This paper proposes a novel machine learning predictive model, utilizing a three-dimensional convoluted neural network (3D-CNN), to reliably predict the presence of lymph node metastasis and the postoperative positive margin status based on preoperative CT scans.

Methods

A total of 881 CT scans were obtained from 110 patients with PDAC. Patients and images were separated into training and validation groups for both lymph node and margin prediction studies. Per-scan analysis and per-patient analysis (utilizing majority voting method) were performed.

Results

For a lymph node prediction 3D-CNN model, accuracy was 90% for per-patient analysis and 75% for per-scan analysis. For a postoperative margin prediction 3D-CNN model, accuracy was 81% for per-patient analysis and 76% for per-scan analysis.

Discussion

This paper provides a proof of concept that utilizing radiomics and the 3D-CNN deep learning framework may be used preoperatively to improve the prediction of positive resection margins as well as the presence of lymph node metastatic disease. Further investigations should be performed with larger cohorts to increase the generalizability of this model; however, there is a great promise in the use of convoluted neural networks to assist clinicians with treatment selection for patients with PDAC.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict liver metastasis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after radical resection

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to develop and externally validate a nomogram for predicting liver metastasis after radical resection in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

A total of 247 PDAC patients who underwent radical resection were retrospectively reviewed from January 2015 to March 2022 at Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital Eastern Section, and used as a training cohort to develop the nomogram. 83 PDAC patients from the Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital Xingning Section were enrolled as the validation cohort. The postoperative liver metastasis was recorded during the follow-up, and the liver metastasis-free survival was defined as the time from operation to the date of liver metastasis diagnosis or death. The nomogram was established based on independent prognostic factors selected by LASSO and multivariate Cox regression model. The performance was assessed using the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to determine the clinical utility of the nomogram model.

RESULTS

From the training cohort of 247 patients, a total of 132 patients developed liver metastasis during the follow-up, the 1-, 2- and 3- year liver metastasis-free survival were 52.4%, 43.5% and 40% respectively. The LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that postoperative CA125 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.007, p <0.001), tumor differentiation (HR = 1.640, p = 0.010), tumor size (HR = 1.520, p = 0.029), lymph node ratio (HR = 1.897, p = 0.002) and portal/superior mesenteric/splenic vein invasion degree (PV/SMV/SV) (HR = 2.829, p <0.001) were the independent factors of liver metastasis. A nomogram with independent factors was developed and the C-index was 0.760 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.720-0.799) and 0.739 (95% CI, 0.669-0.810) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The areas under curve (AUC) of the nomogram at 1-, 2- and 3-year were 0.815, 0.803 and 0.773 in the training cohort, and 0.765, 0.879 and 0.908 in the validation cohort, respectively, higher than those in TNM stage. Decision curve analysis (DCA) analysis revealed that the nomogram model provided superior net benefit in clinical utility. Liver metastasis-free survival curves showed a significant discriminatory ability for liver metastasis risk based on the nomogram (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram showed high accuracy in predicting liver metastasis for PDAC after radical resection, and may serve as a clinical support tool to guide personalized and prescient intervention.

Meta-analysis of robotic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy in all patients and pancreatic cancer patients

Purposes

To compare perioperative outcomes of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) using evidence from cohort studies.

Methods

Outcomes of interest include operative time, blood loss, R0 resection rate, lymph nodes harvested, overall complication rate, pancreatic fistula rate, delayed gastric emptying rate and 90-day mortality.

Results

6 prospective studies and 15 retrospective studies were included. Five of these studies were limited to patients with pancreatic cancer. Operative time was significantly longer in RPD (WMD: 64.60 min; 95% CI: 26.89 to 102.21; p = 0.001). Estimated blood loss was lower in RPD (WMD: −185.44 ml; 95% CI: −239.66 to −131.21; p < 0.001). Overall complication rates (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.97; p < 0.001) and pancreatic fistula rate (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.82; p < 0.001) were both lower in RPD. Length of hospital stay was longer in OPD (WMD: −1.90; 95% CI: −2.47 to −1.33). 90-day mortality was lower in RPD [odds ratio (OR): 0.77; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.95; p = 0.025].

Conclusion

At current level of evidence, RPD is a safer alternative than OPD with regard to post-operative outcomes and blood loss. However, in terms of oncological outcomes RPD show no advantage over OPD, and the cost of RPD was higher. In general, RPD is now considered a reliable technology, but high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies are still needed to support this conclusion.

Total Neoadjuvant Treatment for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Is Associated With Limited Lymph Node Yield but Improved Ratio

INTRODUCTION

The lymph node yield (LNY) and lymph node ratio (LNR) of nodal metastases following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) have been reported as prognostic parameters in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, they have not been compared in the setting of various neoadjuvant therapy modalities.

METHODS

A single institutional retrospective study identified 134 patients diagnosed with resectable, BLR- and LA-PDAC who underwent PD at Fox Chase Cancer Center between 2010 and 2019. Patients were categorized based on first-line treatment as follows: surgery first (SF), total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), and single modality neoadjuvant therapy (SMNT). The histopathological reports of the surgical specimens were examined to obtain LNY and determine the counts of lymph nodes with metastases. Subsequently, LNR was calculated as the number of positive lymph nodes divided by the number of lymph nodes examined.

RESULTS

Overall, 49, 38, 27, 12, and 8 patients underwent SF approach, SMNT, incomplete TNT, induction TNT, and consolidation TNT, respectively. There was no difference in R0 resection and vascular resection between the groups (P = 0.096 and 0.794, respectively). The median counts of LNY were 22, 15, 21, 11.5, and 10, respectively (P < 0.001). The average LNR was 0.16, 0.07, 0.03, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in overall survival in the TNT groups (log-rank test P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

PDAC patients who undergo the TNT modality exhibit lower LNY and improved LNR compared with the SF approach and SMNT neoadjuvant therapy groups. This is likely explained by the increased treatment response and lymph node obliteration associated with the TNT approach. Our results question the minimal requirement of 11-18 harvested lymph nodes for PD following TNT.

External validation of three lymph node ratio-based nomograms predicting survival using an international cohort of patients with resected pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Lymph node ratio (LNR) is an important prognostic factor of survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aimed to validate three LNR-based nomograms using an international cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive PDAC patients who underwent upfront pancreatoduodenectomy from six centers (Europe/USA) were collected (2000-2017). Patients with metastases, R2 resection, missing LNR data, and who died within 90 postoperative days were excluded. The updated Amsterdam nomogram, the nomogram by Pu et al., and the nomogram by Li et al. were selected. For the validation, calibration, discrimination capacity, and clinical utility were assessed.

RESULTS

After exclusion of 176 patients, 1'113 patients were included. Median overall survival (OS) of the cohort was 23 months (95% CI: 21-25). For the three nomograms, Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant OS diminution with increasing scores (p < 0.01). All nomograms showed good calibration (non-significant Hosmer-Lemeshow tests). For the Amsterdam nomogram, area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for 3-year OS was 0.64 and 0.67 for 5-year OS. Sensitivity and specificity for 3-year OS prediction were 65% and 59%. Regarding the nomogram by Pu et al., AUROC for 3- and 5-year OS were 0.66 and 0.70. Sensitivity and specificity for 3-year OS prediction were 68% and 53%. For the Li nomogram, AUROC for 3- and 5-year OS were 0.67 and 0.71, while sensitivity and specificity for 3-year OS prediction were 63% and 60%.

CONCLUSION

The three nomograms were validated using an international cohort. Those nomograms can be used in clinical practice to evaluate survival after pancreatoduodenectomy for PDAC.

Preneoplastic Lesions in Surgical Specimens Do Not Worsen the Prognosis of Patients Who Underwent Surgery for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Post-Hoc Analysis of the PRODIGE 24-CCTG PA 6 Trial

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer patients who undergo curative surgery are still likely to recur. We therefore analyzed the data of the 493 patients from the PRODIGE 24-CCTG PA 6 trial, which validated the benefit of adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX regimen over gemcitabine after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection. We investigated whether the presence of dysplasia (noninvasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, mucinous cystic neoplasm or pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia) might decrease in disease-free survival. A preneoplastic lesion was identified in 226 patients (45.8%). In a multivariate analysis, the presence of dysplasia is not an independent predictor of diminished disease-free survival. This finding should be useful for future prospective trials and for surgeons’ decision making, as the pre-existence of a preneoplastic lesion should not preclude a plan for curative surgery.

Abstract

Objective: The prognosis of pancreatic cancer after curative surgery is burdened by frequent recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of dysplasia in the surgical specimen on disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: A post-hoc analysis of the phase III PRODIGE 24-CCTG PA 6 trial was performed. From April 2012 to October 2016, 493 patients were included in the primary study. Assessment for dysplasia in the surgical specimens was secondarily performed. Dysplasia was defined based on presence and grade of three most common pre-malignant lesions (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). The primary endpoint was DFS validated through multivariate analysis. Results: Two hundred twenty-six patients (45.9%) had a preneoplastic lesion. PanIN lesions were found in 193 patients (39.2%), including 100 high-grade lesions (20.6%); 43 patients had IPMN lesions (8.7%), including high-grade lesions in 32 (6.5%). Three MCN were described (0.6%). In bivariate analysis, the presence of dysplasia was not associated with poorer DFS (HR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.66; 1.03]). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for poorer DFS were poorly differentiated/undifferentiated tumor, N1 status, R1 surgical margins and perineural invasion. Conclusions: The presence of dysplasia in the surgical specimen after pancreatic cancer surgery does not worsen DFS.

Development and external validation of a dynamic nomogram to predict the survival for adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas

Objective

We aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the survival and prognosis of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas (ASCP).

Background

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas (ASCP) is a relatively rare histological subtype of pancreatic exocrine neoplasms. It was reported a worse survival in ASCP than in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Prediction of ASCP prognosis is of great importance.

Methods

Histologically confirmed ASCP patients from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database were finally enrolled and divided into development and internal validation cohorts. Moreover, a multi-center cohort of 70 patients from China was registered as the external validation. A nomogram was developed based on independent predictors of ASCP determined in multivariable analysis.

Results

A total of 233 patients from SEER were finally included. Univariate and Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lymph node ratio (LNR) were considered the independent prognostic indicators. We developed a nomogram according to these four parameters. The C index of the nomogram in the development cohort was 0.696. Through analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) of the different cohorts, we observed that the predictive efficacy of the nomogram for 1-, and 2-year overall survival (OS) were better than those of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM (8th) staging system both in the development and validation cohort. External validation confirmed that 1-year survival is 67.2% vs. 29.7%, similar to the internal cohort analysis.

Conclusion

The nomogram showed good performance in predicting the survival of ASCP. It could help surgeons to make clinical decisions and develop further plans.

Prognostic value of preoperative enhanced computed tomography as a quantitative imaging biomarker in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with high mortality and short survival time. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of pancreatic tumour. Pancreatic cancer generally shows a low enhancement pattern compared with normal pancreatic tissue.

AIM

To analyse whether preoperative enhanced CT could be used to predict postoperative overall survival in patients with PDAC.

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients with PDAC undergoing pancreatic resection were enrolled retrospectively. All patients underwent preoperative unenhanced and enhanced CT examination, the CT values of which were measured. The ratio of the preoperative CT value increase from the nonenhancement phase to the portal venous phase between pancreatic tumour and normal pancreatic tissue was calculated. The cut-off value of ratios was obtained by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the tumour relative enhancement ratio (TRER), according to which patients were divided into low- and high-enhancement groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox regression based on TRER grouping. Finally, the correlation between TRER and clinicopathological characteristics was analysed.

RESULTS

The area under the curve of the ROC curve was 0.768 (P < 0.05), and the cut-off value of the ROC curve was calculated as 0.7. TRER ≤ 0.7 was defined as the low-enhancement group, and TRER > 0.7 was defined as the high-enhancement group. According to the TRER grouping, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis results showed that the median survival (10.0 mo) with TRER ≤ 0.7 was significantly shorter than that (22.0 mo) with TRER > 0.7 (P < 0.05). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, the prognosis of patients with TRER ≤ 0.7 was significantly worse than that of patients with TRER > 0.7 (P < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that patients in the low TRER group were more likely to have higher American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, tumour stage and lymph node stage (all P < 0.05), and TRER was significantly negatively correlated with tumour size (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TRER ≤ 0.7 in patients with PDAC may represent a tumour with higher clinical stage and result in a shorter overall survival.

Prognostic Nomogram Based on the Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio for T1-4N0-1M0 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors After Surgery

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) and to develop and validate nomograms to predict 5-, 7-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates for pNETs after surgical resection.

Methods

The demographics and clinicopathological information of T_1-4N_0-1M₀ pNET patients between 2004 and 2018 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. X-tile software was used to determine the best cutoff value for the LNR. Patients were randomly divided into the training and the validation groups. A Cox regression model was used in the training group to obtain independent prognostic factors to develop nomograms for predicting OS and CSS. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the nomograms. Patients were divided into four groups according to the model scores, and their survival curves were generated by the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

A total of 806 patients were included in this study. The best cutoff value for the LNR was 0.16. The LNR was negatively correlated with both OS and CSS. Age, sex, marital status, primary site, grade, the LNR and radiotherapy were used to construct OS and CSS nomograms. In the training group, the C-index was 0.771 for OS and 0.778 for CSS. In the validation group, the C-index was 0.737 for OS and 0.727 for CSS. The calibration curves and AUC also indicated their good predictability. DCA demonstrated that the nomograms displayed better performance than the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system (8th edition). Risk stratification indicated that patients with higher risk had a worse prognosis.

Conclusions

The LNR is an independent negative prognostic factor for pNETs. The nomograms we built can accurately predict long-term survival for pNETs after surgery.

N, LNR or LODDS: Which Is the Most Appropriate Lymph Node Classification Scheme for Patients with Radically Resected Pancreatic Cancer?

Simple Summary

To date, no data are available regarding the most appropriate alternative LN classification system with respect to prognostic power and discriminative ability in cases with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We compared different lymph node classification systems with regard to accurate evaluation of overall survival in 319 patients with resected PDAC. One LNR and one LODDS classification scheme were found to out-perform the N category in distinct patient subgroups. Only the LODDS classification exhibited statistically significant, gradually increasing HRs of their subcategories and, at the same time, significantly better discriminative potential in the subgroups of patients with PDAC of the head or corpus and in patients with tumor-free resection margins or M0 status, respectively.

Abstract

Background: Even though numerous novel lymph node (LN) classification schemes exist, an extensive comparison of their performance in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not yet been performed. Method: We investigated the prognostic performance and discriminative ability of 25 different LN ratio (LNR) and 27 log odds of metastatic LN (LODDS) classifications by means of Cox regression and C-statistic in 319 patients with resected PDAC. Regression models were adjusted for age, sex, T category, grading, localization, presence of metastatic disease, positivity of resection margins, and neoadjuvant therapy. Results: Both LNR or LODDS as continuous variables were associated with advanced tumor stage, distant metastasis, positive resection margins, and PDAC of the head or corpus. Two distinct LN classifications, one LODDS and one LNR, were found to be superior to the N category in the complete patient collective. However, only the LODDS classification exhibited statistically significant, gradually increasing HRs of their subcategories and at the same time significantly higher discriminative potential in the subgroups of patients with PDAC of the head or corpus and in patients with tumor free resection margins or M0 status, respectively. On this basis, we built a clinically helpful nomogram to estimate the prognosis of patients after radically resected PDAC. Conclusion: One LNR and one LODDS classification scheme were found to out-perform the N category in terms of both prognostic performance and discriminative ability, in distinct patient subgroups, with reference to OS in patients with resected PDAC.

A Population-Based Study to Evaluate the Associations of Nodal Stage, Lymph Node Ratio and Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes with Survival in Patients with Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the real-world prognostic significance of lymph node ratio (LNR) and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LOPLN) in patients with non-metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients diagnosed with early-stage small bowel adenocarcinoma between January 2007 and December 2018 from a large Canadian province were identified. We calculated the LNR by dividing positive over total lymph nodes examined and the LOPLN as log ([positive lymph nodes + 0.5]/[negative lymph nodes + 0.5]). The LNR and LOPLN were categorized at cut-offs of 0.4 and −1.1, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for each nodal stage, LNR and LOPLN, adjusting for measured confounding factors. Harrell’s C-index and Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) were used to calculate the prognostic discriminatory abilities of the different models. Results: We identified 141 patients. The median age was 67 years and 54.6% were men. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with stage I, II and III small bowel adenocarcinoma were 50.0%, 56.6% and 47.5%, respectively. The discriminatory ability was generally comparable for LOPLN, LNR and nodal stage in the prognostication of all patients. However, LOPLN had higher discriminatory ability among patients with at least one lymph node involvement (Harrell’s C-index, 0.75, 0.77 and 0.82, and AIC, 122.91, 119.68 and 110.69 for nodal stage, LNR and LOPLN, respectively). Conclusion: The LOPLN may provide better prognostic information when compared to LNR and nodal stage in specific patients.

Resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An Asian institution's experience

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly lethal. Surgery offers the only chance of cure, but 5-year overall survival (OS) after surgical resection and adjuvant therapy remains dismal. Adjuvant trials were mostly conducted in the West enrolling fit patients. Applicability to a general population, especially Asia has not been described adequately.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, prognostic factors of survival, pattern, and timing of recurrence after curative resection in an Asian institution.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The clinicopathologic and survival outcomes of 165 PDAC patients who underwent curative resection between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Median age at surgery was 62.0 years. 55.2% were male, and 73.3% had tumors involving the head of pancreas. The median OS of the entire cohort was 19.7 months. Median OS of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy was 23.8 months. Negative predictors of survival include lymph node ratio (LNR) of >0.3 (HR = 3.36, P = .001), tumor site involving the body or tail of pancreas (HR = 1.59, P = .046), presence of perineural invasion (PNI) (HR = 2.36, P = .018) and poorly differentiated/undifferentiated tumor grade (HR = 1.86, P = .058). The median time to recurrence was 8.87 months, with 66.1% and 81.2% of patients developing recurrence at 12 months and 24 months respectively. The most common site of recurrence was the liver.

CONCLUSION

The survival of Asian patients with resected PDAC who received adjuvant chemotherapy is comparable to reported randomized trials. Clinical characteristics seem similar to Western patients. Hence, geographical locations may not be a necessary stratification factor in RCTs. Conversely, lymph node ratio and status of PNI ought to be incorporated.

Predictive Performance of Current Nodal Staging Systems in Various Categories of Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

Nodal staging systems (NSS) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) classify patients on the basis of number of metastatic lymph nodes (MLN), metastatic/retrieved lymph node ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive LN (LODDS). The relative prognostic performance of these NSS, however, remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 2584 patients who underwent surgery for PDAC between 2010 and 2019. Subgroups of each staging system were classified using K-adaptive partitioning method and assessed by comparing time-dependent areas under the curve (AUC) 5 years after surgery.

RESULTS

Patients were subgrouped by MLN (0, 1-3, ≥ 4), LNR (0, 0-0.23, > 0.23), and LODDS (< - 3.5, - 3.5 to - 0.970, > - 0.97). All three NSS were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The AUCs for OS were comparable for the MLN (0.622), LNR (0.609), and LODDS (0.596) systems. Subgroup evaluation based on 12 retrieved lymph nodes (RLN), R1 resection, and extent of resection showed that the AUCs of the MLN and LNR NSS were comparable for OS and RFS regardless of the number of RLNs, R1 resection, and extent of resection. By contrast, the AUCs of the LODDS NSS were lower.

CONCLUSION

The NSS based on the number of MLN is the best prognostic indicator, with prognostic performance comparable to the other NSS and greater convenience for practical use. This NSS was applicable regardless of the numbers of RLN, R1 resection, and extent of resection.

Prognostic Nomogram for patients undergoing radical Pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head

Background

Radical pancreaticoduodenectomy is the most common treatment strategy for patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Few studies have reported the clinical characteristics and treatment efficacies of patients undergoing radical pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head.

Methods

A total of 177 pancreatic head cancer patients who underwent radical pancreaticoduodenectomy and were pathologically confirmed as having pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were screened in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The multivariate analysis results were implemented to construct a nomogram. The concordance index (c-index), the area under the curve (AUC) and calibration were utilized to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram.

Results

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), the lymph node ratio (LNR) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging served as independent prognostic factors and were used to construct the nomogram. The c-indexes of the nomogram were 0.799 (confidence interval (CI), 0.741–0.858) and 0.732 (0.657–0.807) in the primary set and validation set, respectively. The AUCs of the nomogram at 1 and 3 years were 0.832 and 0.783, which were superior to the AJCC staging values of 0.759 and 0.705, respectively.

Conclusions

The nomogram may be used to predict the prognosis of radical resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. These findings may represent an effective model for the developing an optimal therapeutic schedule for malnourished patients who need early effective nutritional intervention and may promote the treatment efficacy of resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08295-5.

A nomogram predicting overall survival in patients with non-metastatic pancreatic head adenocarcinoma after surgery: a population-based study

Background

Pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (PHAC), a malignant tumour, has a very poor prognosis, and the existing prognostic tools lack good predictive power. This study aimed to develop a better nomogram to predict overall survival after resection of non-metastatic PHAC.

Methods

Patients with non-metastatic PHAC were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and divided randomly into training and validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. Cox regression analysis was used to screen prognostic factors and construct the nomogram. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were calculated to evaluate the performance of the model. The predictive accuracy and clinical benefits of the nomogram were validated using the area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

From 2010 to 2016, 6419 patients with non-metastatic PHAC who underwent surgery were collected from the SEER database. A model including T stage, N stage, grade, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy was constructed. The concordance index of the nomogram was 0.676, and the AUCs of the model assessing survival at multiple timepoints within 60 months were significantly higher than those of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th staging system in the training cohort. Calibration curves showed that the nomogram had ability to predict the actual survival. The NRI, IDI, and DCA curves also indicated that our nomogram had higher predictive capability and clinical utility than the AJCC staging system.

Conclusions

Our nomogram has an ability to predict overall survival after resection of non-metastatic PHAC and includes prognostic factors that are easy to obtain in clinical practice. It would help assist clinicians to conduct personalized medicine.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08250-4.

Nomogram and competing risk model to predict recurrence after curative surgical resection of PDAC

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, a number of patients get disease recurred in a short time post-operation. Few studies have focused on the predictors of different recurrence patterns of PDAC.

OBJECTIVE

To try to establish and verify a nomogram to predict recurrence free survival (RFS) in PDAC patients, and to distinguish the risk factors of local recurrence first and distant metastasis first via competing risk model.

METHODS

Patients who underwent radical pancreatectomy for PDAC in our center from 2010 to 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify the clinicopathological predictors of recurrence post-operation. And then, a nomogram was constructed and validated. Competing risk regression model was used to compare the predictors between local recurrence group and distant metastasis group.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were included into the final analysis, and 153 patients got disease relapsed post-operation. CA19-9 level, vascular resection, tumor differentiation, lymph node ratio (LNR) and adjuvant chemotherapy were identified as independent risk factors for recurrence free survival (RFS) and incorporated into the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.650. Competing risk model indicated that the status of lymph-node metastasis was significantly associated the patterns of first relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Nomogram and competing risk model were constructed to quantify the risk of recurrence following surgery for PDAC. Our findings may be useful for predicting RFS and recurrence pattern in clinical work.

Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) versus conventional distal pancreatectomy for left-sided pancreatic cancer: findings of a multicenter, retrospective, propensity score matching study

PURPOSE

Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) has been reported to achieve high rates of a negative margin and resected metastatic lymph nodes. However, many studies have used historical controls and the results remain controversial. We conducted this study to compare the surgical and long-term outcomes of RAMPS vs. conventional distal pancreatectomy (DP).

METHODS

The subjects of this multicenter retrospective study were 106 patients who underwent curative resection for left-sided pancreatic cancer between 2012 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates.

RESULTS

The RAMPS group had more advanced T (T3/T4) and N stages (N1/N2) and a larger tumor size than the conventional group (T stage, p = 0.04; N stage, p = 0.02; tumor size, p = 0.04). The RAMPS group had more harvested metastatic lymph nodes (p = 0.02). After propensity-score matching, 37 patients from each group were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference in RFS (p = 0.463) or OS (p = 0.383) between the groups. Multivariate analyses revealed the completion of chemotherapy to be an independent factor for RFS and OS (both p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in the RFS or OS between RAMPS and conventional DP in this series. RAMPS may be an option for R0 resection of advanced tumors; however, postoperative chemotherapy has a greater influence than the surgical procedure on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy provides better histopathological outcomes as compared to its open counterpart: a meta-analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) may provide better clinical and pathologic outcomes compared to its open counterpart. The Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched. Overall postoperative morbidity and resection margin involvement rate were the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included operating time, estimated blood loss (EBL), incisional surgical site infection (SSI) rate, length of hospital stay (LOS), and number of lymph nodes harvested. Twenty-four studies totaling 12,579 patients (2,175 robotic PD and 10,404 open PD were included. Overall postoperative mortality did not significantly differ [OR (95%CI) = 0.86 (0.74, 1.01); p = 0.06]. Resection margin involvement rate was significantly lower in robotic PD [15.6% vs. 19.9%; OR (95%CI) = 0.64 (0.41, 1.00); p = 0.05; NNT = 23]. Operating time was significantly longer in robotic PD [MD (95%CI) = 75.17 (48.05, 102.28); p < 0.00001]. EBL was significantly decreased in robotic PD [MD (95%CI) = - 191.35 (- 238.12, - 144.59); p < 0.00001]. Number of lymph nodes harvested was significantly higher in robotic PD [MD (95%CI) = 2.88 (1.12, 4.65); p = 0.001]. This meta-analysis found that robotic PD provides better histopathological outcomes as compared to open PD at the cost of longer operating time. Furthermore, robotic PD did not have any detrimental impact on clinical outcomes, with lower wound infection rates.

Pancreatectomy with Vascular Resection After Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX: Who Survives More Than a Year After Surgery?

BACKGROUND

Experienced pancreatic surgeons, for whom complexity is not an issue, must decide at the end of neoadjuvant therapy whether to continue or discontinue surgery, when pancreatectomy with vascular resection is planned in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to determine preoperative factors that can predict short postoperative survival in such situations.

METHODS

Overall, 105 patients with borderline or locally advanced PDAC received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX (followed by chemoradiation in 22% of patients) and underwent pancreatectomy with segmental venous and/or arterial resection at two high-volume centers. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) of < 1 year after surgery for patients who did not die from the surgery.

RESULTS

Tumors were classified as borderline in 78% of cases and locally advanced in 22% of cases. Mean CA19-9 at diagnosis was 934 U/mL, which significantly decreased to 213 U/mL (p < 0.01) after a median of six cycles of FOLFIRINOX. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed most often (76%). The vast majority of patients underwent venous resection (92%), and a simultaneous arterial resection was performed in 16 patients (15%). The severe morbidity rate and 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 21%, 8.5%, and 10.4%, respectively. The median OS after surgery was 23 months. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative CA19-9 ≥ 450 U/mL was the only preoperative factor independently associated with OS of < 1 year (p = 0.044).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative CA19-9 value should be considered in the clinical decision-making process when complex vascular resection is required.

Lymph Node Subcapsular Sinus Microenvironment-On-A-Chip Modeling Shear Flow Relevant to Lymphatic Metastasis and Immune Cell Homing

A lymph node sinus-on-a-chip adhesion microfluidic platform that recapitulates the hydrodynamic microenvironment of the lymph node subcapsular sinus was engineered. This device was used to interrogate the effects of lymph node remodeling on cellular adhesion in fluid flow relevant to lymphatic metastasis. Wall shear stress levels analytically estimated and modeled after quiescent and diseased/inflamed lymph nodes were experimentally recapitulated using a flow-based microfluidic perfusion system to assess the effects of physiological flow fields on human metastatic cancer cell adhesion. Results suggest that both altered fluid flow profiles and presentation of adhesive ligands, which are predicted to manifest within the lymph node subcapsular sinus as a result of inflammation-induced remodeling, and the presence of lymph-borne monocytic cells may synergistically contribute to the dynamic extent of cell adhesion in flow relevant to lymph node invasion by cancer and monocytic immune cells during lymphatic metastasis.

Multivisceral resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail-a retrospective single-center analysis

BACKGROUND

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail is associated with a dismal prognosis. As patients frequently present themselves with locally advanced tumors, extended surgery including multivisceral resection is often necessary in order to achieve tumor-free resection margins. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality and to evaluate the influence of multivisceral resections on patient outcome.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of 94 patients undergoing resection of adenocarcinoma located in the pancreatic body and/or tail between April 1995 and December 2016 at our institution. Uni- and multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify independent prognostic factors for postoperative survival.

RESULTS

Multivisceral resections, including partial resections of the liver, the large and small intestines, the stomach, the left kidney and adrenal gland, and major vessels, were carried out in 47 patients (50.0%). The median postoperative follow-up time was 12.90 (0.16-220.92) months. Median Kaplan-Meier survival after resection was 12.78 months with 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 53.2%, 15.8%, and 9.0%. Multivariable Cox regression identified coeliac trunk resection (p = 0.027), portal vein resection (p = 0.010), intraoperative blood transfusions (p = 0.005), and lymph node ratio in percentage (p = 0.001) as independent risk factors for survival. Although postoperative complications requiring surgical revision were observed more frequently after multivisceral resections (14.9 versus 2.1%; p = 0.029), postoperative survival was not significantly inferior when compared to patients undergoing standard distal or subtotal pancreatectomy (12.35 versus 13.87 months; p = 0.377).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicates that multivisceral resection in cases of locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma of the body and/or tail is justified, as it is not associated with increased mortality and can even facilitate long-term survival, albeit with an increase in postoperative morbidity. Simultaneous resections of major vessels, however, should be considered carefully, as they are associated with inferior survival.

Lymph Node Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Pancreatic Cancer Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction The lymph node ratio (LNR) is defined as the ratio of number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes harvested during surgery. The objective of this article is to investigate the efficacy of LNR as a prognostic indicator of survival in pancreatic cancer patients who have undergone surgery by meta-analysis. Methods A systematic database search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar for relevant studies that reported LNR in pancreatic cancer. Two authors independently screened the relevant articles for selection and to extract data. All studies published in English up to April 2020 were obtained, and a total of 17,128 node-positive patients in 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. RevMan software 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration, the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used for conducting all statistical analyses. Results This meta-analysis demonstrated that LNR > 0.2 significantly correlated with worse survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.74-1.94; p ≤ 0.00001) in node-positive pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusions Our findings have demonstrated that a higher LNR is a predictor of poor survival and that LNR serves as an independent prognostic marker for assessing survival using a cut-off of 20%.

The Positive Lymph Node Ratio Predicts Survival in T1-4N1-3M0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Nomogram Using the SEER Database

Background: An increasing number of studies have shown that the positive lymph node ratio (pLNR) can be used to evaluate the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. To determine the predictive value of the pLNR, we collected data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and performed a retrospective analysis. Methods: We collected survival and clinical information on patients with T_1-4N_1-3M₀ NSCLC diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 from the SEER database and screened them according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. X-tile software was used to obtain the best cut-off value for the pLNR. Then, we randomly divided patients into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. Pearson's correlation coefficient, tolerance and the variance inflation factor (VIF) were used to detect collinearity between variables. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify significant prognostic factors, and nomograms was constructed to visualize the results. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive ability of the nomogram. We divided the patient scores into four groups according to the interquartile interval and constructed a survival curve using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: A total of 6,245 patients were initially enrolled. The best cut-off value for the pLNR was determined to be 0.55. The nomogram contained 13 prognostic factors, including the pLNR. The pLNR was identified as an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The C-index was 0.703 (95% CI, 0.695-0.711) in the training set and 0.711 (95% CI, 0.699-0.723) in the validation set. The calibration curves and DCA also indicated the good predictability of the nomogram. Risk stratification revealed a statistically significant difference among the four groups of patients divided according to quartiles of risk score. Conclusion: The nomogram containing the pLNR can accurately predict survival in patients with T_1-4N_1-3M₀ NSCLC.

Local and systemic immunosuppression in pancreatic cancer: Targeting the stalwarts in tumor's arsenal

Late detection, compromised immune system, and chemotherapy resistance underlie the poor patient prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, making it the 3^rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Cooperation between the tumor cells and the immune system leads to the immune escape and eventual establishment of the tumor. For more than 20 years, sincere efforts have been made to intercept the tumor-immune crosstalk and identify the probable therapeutic targets for breaking self-tolerance toward tumor antigens. However, the success of these studies depends on detailed examination and understanding of tumor-immune cell interactions, not only in the primary tumor but also at distant systemic niches. Innate and adaptive arms of the immune system sculpt tumor immunogenicity, where they not only aid in providing an amenable environment for their survival but also act as a driver for tumor relapse at primary or distant organ sites. This review article highlights the key events associated with tumor-immune communication and associated immunosuppression at both local and systemic microenvironments in PDAC. Furthermore, we discuss the approaches and benefits of targeting both local and systemic immunosuppression for PDAC patients. The present articles integrate data from clinical and genetic mouse model studies to provide a widespread consensus on the role of local and systemic immunosuppression in undermining the anti-tumor immune responses against PDAC.

Development of a Nomogram to Predict Disease-Specific Survival for Patients After Resection of a Non-Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Body and Tail

BACKGROUND

Models for predicting patient survival after resection of a non-metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail (APBT) are scarce. We wished to establish and validate a nomogram to predict disease-specific survival (DSS) of these patients.

METHODS

A total of 1,435 patients screened from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included and divided randomly into a training set (TS; n = 1,007) and internal validation set (IVS; n = 428) at a ratio of 7:3. Cox regression analyses were conducted to select independent predictors in the TS, and a nomogram was constructed. The model was subjected to the IVS and an external validation set (EVS) comprising 151 patients from two tertiary hospitals.

RESULTS

Five independent risk factors (age at the diagnosis, chemotherapy, tumor grade, T stage, and the lymph node radio) were identified and integrated into the nomogram. Calibration curves indicated that the nomogram could predict DSS at 1, 2, and 3 years accurately. The nomogram had a higher concordance index for predicting DSS compared with that using the 8th edition of the American Joint 23 Committee on Cancer (AJCC8) stage (TS: 0.681 vs. 0.606; IVS: 0.662 vs. 0.590; and EVS: 0.675 vs. 0.608). The nomogram had better discrimination ability and clinical utility than the AJCC8 stage for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year DSS.

CONCLUSION

Our developed nomogram could accurately predict DSS in patients after resection of a non-metastatic APBT.